Happenings at the YCSPCA Thrift Store

Transcription

1 News from the Yolo County SPCA Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Issue III, 2013 Happenings at the YCSPCA Thrift Store Employees run back and forth from the line of cars at the back of the thrift store and help customers unload the many goods they are donating to us: Clothing, small household appliances, books, CDs, DVDs, jewelry, artwork welcome to a typical Saturday afternoon at the Yolo County SPCA Thrift Store. Many folks load up their cars with treasures and make a short trip to the thrift store to drop off their donations. For almost 20 years, we have had the good fortune to benefit from the generosity and support of our community at our thrift store. This support funds the programs and operations of the YCSPCA. The YCSPCA Thrift Store is located on the corner of Third and I Streets in Downtown Davis. Customers patiently wait each morning for our doors to open so that they can check out what new goods have been put out for sale. Our main store, known as Suite F, houses clothing, shoes, jewelry, electronics, household items (such as kitchenware and furniture), and Yolo County SPCA merchandise. We recently expanded into the other end of the building to an area known as Suite A, which now houses books, CDs, records, DVDs, artwork, and jewelry. While you can always find great bargains, we also offer a frequent shopper program; for every $150 spent at the store, you receive a 50% off coupon. When you donate to the store, you receive a 20% off coupon for your next purchase. There are also daily specials Sunday is student discount day, while other days offer 50% off clothing or books, or you may be able to fill a bag with clothing and pay only $5. Bargains on top of bargains always await you! If you are looking for a special item that you can t find at either of our stores, you have the option of shopping on our ebay.com and half.com sites. Our ebay site, stores.ebay. com/yolocountyspca, offers items of a higher quality, such as

2 Page 2 Issue III, 2013 Yolo County SPCA Mission: To continuously improve the welfare of animals in the community through programs that promote the adoption of homeless animals into permanent, loving homes; humane education; spay/neutering; and the trapping, altering, and releasing of feral cats. Thanks to the contributions of our members, volunteers, and the public, we can create a more humane tomorrow. Board of Directors: President Shelley Bryant Vice President Emily Taylor Secretary Leslie Bauer Treasurer Pam Carroll Member at Large Kerry Duncan Directors Lydia Caronna Craig Mona DeMasi Kim Pruett Lea Rosenberg Laurie Siperstein-Cook, D.V.M. Nissa Stephenson Executive Director: Kimberly Kinnee Newsletter Contributors: Leslie Bauer, Editor Shelley Bryant Anamarie Johnson Kimberly Kinnee Kelly Lee Kim Pruett, Webmaster Jill Souza designer purses, shoes, and clothing, while our half.com site, shops.half.ebay.com/ yolocountyspca, offers higher quality books, DVDs and CDs. Since we are located in Downtown Davis, we participate in many events organized by Davis Downtown. From the Second Friday Artwalk to the Halloween Treat Trail to July s Sidewalk Sales, these events are not only fun, but they bring many people into our store and promote shopping in Davis. We also participate in Davis Chamber events such as Chamber Day on the Quad, Celebrate Davis, and the monthly mixer. We plan to host our first mixer on Thursday, December 19th from 5:30-7:30pm. We hope you can join us at one of these events! The YCSPCA Thrift Store not only provides many great shopping opportunities, but it also gives people the chance to support the animals in need in our community and repurpose items that they might otherwise throw away. The proceeds generated by the store support our many programs and give us the ability to rescue homeless cats, kittens, dogs and puppies and place them in foster homes until they are adopted into new homes. If you have not discovered the treasure that is the Yolo County SPCA Thrift Store, we invite you to do so soon! By donating to or shopping at the store (or both!), you are helping your environment and supporting a great cause. Please check out a short video, produced by Richie Farman at com/watch?v=bilksigtslo, that highlights the delights of our store. Our winter hours are Monday Sunday 10am to 6pm. We also offer pick up service free for Davis, $20 for Woodland, and $25 for Winters. Like us on Facebook at YoloCountySPCAThriftStore to stay up-to-date with our daily specials. We hope to see you there soon! Kim Kinnee, YCSPCA Executive Director

3 Issue III, 2013 Page 3 Vaccine Clinics in Davis Many members of the Davis animal community know of Mercer Clinic, a UC Davis vet student-run vaccine clinic for the homeless and low-income residents of Sacramento. However, for someone who does not have access to a car or transportation that allows them to bring their pet, Sacramento might as well be across the country. Until August 2012, the homeless community of Davis did not have a reliable and easily accessible clinic to keep their furry family members healthy and well. The Yolo County SPCA now provides free vaccinations, food and pet supplies for both cats and dogs, and assistance with low cost or no cost spay and neuter surgeries at vaccine clinics for the homeless pet owners of Davis. The first vaccine clinics were held at Davis Community Church and have since moved to the Davis Community Meals center on H St. Our friend, Dr. Karen Krstich, administers all vaccines and does a quick examination of the dog. Yolo County SPCA volunteers provide spay and neutering advice and will happily schedule altering appointments! The Yolo County SPCA and Davis Community Meals plans to host a clinic every three months. Anamarie Johnson, YCSPCA Volunteer Coordinator Salt Dough Paw Prints Whether you intend for this craft to be an ornament or a fun wall hanging, paw prints are a wonderful keepsake from your furry companion. To make salt dough prints, mix equal parts white flour and salt, and mix in just enough water to make a very firm dough (it should be smooth, not sticky or crumbly). Now's the time to convince your pet to leave his mark! Once you've shaped your dough as desired and have borrowed your pet's paw for the final flourish, it's time to bake. Put the dough in the oven at its lowest temperature, and bake the prints on a baking sheet for about 3 hours, flipping occasionally to aid in even drying. Once you get it out, feel free to decorate as desired and enjoy! - Jill Souza, YCSPCA Employee

4 Page 4 Issue III, 2013 Merry Greenery Your animals can't tell you this, but they'd really like some cat grass for the holidays! Both dogs and cats love having a safe, indoor supply of greenery to nibble at (or decimate, depending on your pet's preference). This product can be be purchased ready-to-go from your local pet store, but the cost can add up. Here are some tips for growing your own 'cat grass' at home. Cat grass is really oat, wheat, or barley grass. Oat is one of the sweeter and preferred types by many animals. It can be purchased cheapest online or at local home improvement stores in large bags of oat seed. Keep in mind that having it be pesticide free would be safest for your furry friend. You can grow the grass in many small containers and offset planting times so that there is always a container ready to go, or in larger flat dishes so your pet can lounge in the grass while snacking. You'll want to use potting soil or sterilize your yard soil by baking to ensure that you don't have any poisonous plants growing in amongst the grass. Once it begins to yellow, it's time to toss it in compost and start a new batch. Happy growing! - Jill Souza, YCSPCA Employee From Whirling Dervish to Couch Potato: Teaching your Dog to do Nothing Many owners of young dogs often complain that their furry friend is out of control. He constantly whines and barks at me! or, She runs around stealing socks and chewing on furniture! are common complaints among people with newly adopted dogs, young dogs, or dogs who are just busy by nature. What can you do if you have one of these enthusiastic pups? There is no substitute for taking your dog to classes taught by a professional dog trainer. A good trainer will show you how to reinforce behaviors that you want while strengthening your relationship with your dog. However, there are plenty of changes in YOUR behavior you can make at home, that will help make your dog a pleasure to live with. First, stop reinforcing behaviors you don t like. Do you get up to let your dog out when he jumps on you? Maybe you give him something to chew on, just to quiet him down when he s whining or barking? If so, you are increasing the likelihood that he will jump, whine, or bark the next time he wants something. Even actions you might think of as punishment could be sufficiently reinforcing to a bored dog to encourage an unwanted behavior. For example, chasing the sock-wielding terrier through the house while yelling at him can be a great game to your dog! Instead of reacting, ignore your dog when he s trying to get your attention with his antics. Next, start rewarding your dog while he is doing nothing. It s all too easy to forget about your pup when he s quietly resting in the corner, but this is exactly when you should be hurrying over to give him an extra tasty treat. Don t wait for him to be a pest to pay attention to him! Make it a point to only feed your dog, take him for a walk, throw the ball, etc. when he is calm and quiet. The more often you remember to reward your dog for resting calmly, the more peaceful your household will be. Kelly Lee, YCSPCA Shelter Employee

5 Issue III, 2013 Page 5 Alfresco Friday Fun It was the perfect evening for a drive in the county: Warm, but not hot. There was a soft breeze that kept the mosquitoes at bay, the music provided by the Random Shuffle Band was rocking, the pizzas from the Brick Oven food truck were delicious, and, of course, the wine from Bogle Winery was wonderful. If you weren t there this year, you missed a fabulous evening. On August 23rd, Alfresco Friday at Bogle Winery benefited the Yolo County SPCA. The event was held at the winery in Clarksburg. Yolo County SPCA had our gear there to sell, a small silent auction, and a book-signing table where Adam David Russ was signing his book, Bloodhound in Blue. Adam was a charming representative of his craft. The tasting room was open and we took advantage of our early arrival to sample some of the wines that were crafted by Bogle. Some of us already had favorites of the Bogle variety, but we all found new favorites there that night. A few became members of the Bogle Bandwagon and many of us took advantage of the opportunity to purchase local wine at the winery. We were thrilled to see old friends and to make more new friends there. The grounds were full of folks having a fantastic time and enjoying the evening. We were told that night had seen the largest attendance of the summer. Bogle Winery started Alfresco Fridays on June 14th and the final one was August 30th. Each Friday, a different local nonprofit was the beneficiary of the event. We are hoping for an invitation for Alfresco Friday 2014! Shelley Bryant, YCSPCA President Cardboard Cat Toys Do you find yourself buying toys for your cat only to have your kitty ignore them? Would you like to make a quick, cheap, environmentallyfriendly cat toy? Start with the cardboard tube from rolls of paper towels or toilet paper. Step 1. Cut the tube into ¼ inch rounds. Step 2. The circles can then be placed one inside the other to make a ball. Step 3. A bit of white glue can be used to hold them together. Step 4. Tie a piece of ribbon around one end of the ball to give the toy some extra flourish. Voila! You've created a simple, recycled, environmentallyfriendly cat toy out of something you would normally put in the recycle bin. Shelley Bryant, YCSPCA President

6 Page 6 Issue III, 2013 Like Us on Facebook We love happy endings as much as the next person, but exponentially more when they involve a furry friend! Check out our Facebook page to see updates on adopted animals, our adoption totals each week, and cute foster photos. Who knows, the picture you like or share on your Facebook page may help an animal find his or her forever home! Yolo County SPCA s PetCo Partnership It's Saturday, about 11:30am at Petco in Davis, and many Yolo County SPCA volunteers are running around, setting up tables and cat cages inside and dog pens outside to be ready for our weekly placement event. Very soon, the cat cages will have cute, cuddly kittens and cats for prospective adopters to view and the dog pens will have litters of puppies and bouncy, bubbly dogs. Volunteer adoption counselors are ready to help families find the right pet for their homes and Petco employees are ready to help adopters find dog or cat food, toys, crates and beds for their new family members. For over 20 years, Petco has served as the host for the almost weekly adoption events held by the Yolo County SPCA. We started in a much smaller store and followed Petco when they expanded to their current location in the Marketplace Shopping Center. The employees have always been accommodating and moved displays around on Saturday morning to make room for our adoptable animals, and sometimes have even helped us set up the tables and cages. Not only has Petco served as a host for our adoption events, they have also served as a partner to our organization and raised many funds to support our programs. When customers make a purchase at the Petco in Davis, they are asked if they would like to also support the YCSPCA. Each spring, customers can also elect to make a donation to support our spay and neuter services. This summer, customers had the option to purchase a tennis ball for the dogs in our care. There is a bin at the front of the store where folks can leave donations of cat litter, cat and dog food, toys, beds, carriers, leashes and collars. It is always a pleasure to come to the store on Saturday to see the bin overflowing with donations for the animals of the Yolo County SPCA. We are, of course, grateful to the community that supports

7 Issue III, 2013 Page 7 us, and also very thankful to the staff of Petco. All of the employees encourage their customers to support our organization and sometimes compete to see who can raise the most money! We want to thank Petco for being such a wonderful partner to us for over 20 years and look forward to working with them for the next 20 years! Kim Kinnee, YCSPCA Executive Director Bingo Benefits Yolo County SPCA Rachael Ray Challenge Update This summer, our local animal shelter, Yolo County Animal Services (YCAS), was lucky enough to be one of fifty shelters selected to participate in the ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge. The Challenge is an annual, nationwide contest in which shelters compete against each other, and their own statistics from the previous year, in an attempt to save more lives and win prize money in the process. Yolo County SPCA staff worked together with YCAS to save lives throughout the summer by providing adoption counseling, rescue coordination, and lost and found services. YCSPCA also coordinates YCAS s Community Cats and Barn Cats programs, which provide options for cats that might not be suitable as household pets. Adoption promotions and specials, increased off-site adoption events, and a new kitten foster program all contributed to the success of this summer s life-saving efforts. The total number of lives saved through adoptions, rescue, and animals returned to their owners at YCAS this summer came to 748 dogs and cats. This was an increase of 267 lives saved from the previous summer. YCAS placed 5th out of 10 agencies in its category (categories were based on annual animal intake), and 19th overall out of all 50 shelters! Congratulations to all involved for a job well done! Kelly Lee, YCSPCA Shelter Employee Supporters and friends of the Yolo County SPCA enjoyed an afternoon of Bingo in a special benefit on December 8th, with all proceeds going to the YCSPCA. This event was sponsored by the Davis Odd Fellows. This was a fun and easy way to spend an afternoon with friends and family, and provide a direct financial benefit to the YCSPCA. The Davis Odd Fellows are licensed by the City of Davis to run real Bingo games, and prizes up to $250 per game were awarded. Players purchased their Bingo cards for $20 for the entire afternoon (there was also an economy pack available for $12) and separately purchased instant cash winner pull tabs (for 50 cents each) and extra bonus sheets for $1 each. Please note that ALL proceeds from the games went to YCSPCA so we were happy to see friends, family and neighbors enjoy a mellow afternoon of fun! We hope to see you there next year to join in the excitement! Lea Rosenberg, YCSPCA Board Member

8 YCSPCA Membership Application I want to help the Yolo County SPCA save abused, injured, and abandoned animals. I have enclosed my tax-deductible gift of: (Checks payable to Yolo County SPCA) [ ] Senior/Student/Junior - $10 [ ] Individual - $15 [ ] Family - $25 [ ] Business - $50 [ ] Contribution Only - $ Your Name: Phone: Address: City/State/Zip: Address: Be sure to check out our website at yolospca.org for membership benefits or to sign up online! Yolo County SPCA P.O. Box 510 Davis, CA info@yolospca.org Creating a More Humane Tomorrow! Thank you for your continued support!